7
1684 Words
I crumple the note into my hand as Antonin enters with the nurse. Her lips dip into a frown for only a second before she recovers. She carries a white bag filled with medicines and bandages. She kneels at Camille's side, trying to find a better view of the wound.
With a thin knife, she cuts away the fabric of Camille's dress. Despite the churning in my stomach, I watch her peel back the fabric to reveal a long, thin cut across her stomach.
The nurse inspects it. "It doesn't appear to be too deep. She'll only need a few stitches. She will be fine. We need to carry her down to my office. I will be able to treat it better from there. Will you help me carry her?"
Antonin wraps his arms beneath her shoulders. The nurse lifts her legs. Together they gently carry her from the room. I open doors and hold Camille's hand tightly.
She struggles to keep the weak smile on her lips. She doesn't have the strength to say anything. I brush her hair away from her pale face, wishing that it was I in her place. If only she hadn't overheard us. Of course Alexanne wouldn't allow Camille's mistake go without retaliation. I should have known to expect as much. Why did I ever allow Camille to be alone by herself?
The corridors seem double the length they've always been. Each step takes the time of ten normal strides. With every jostle and bump, a groan escapes Camille's lips. The nurse and Antonin preserve forwards until we finally reach her office.
They gently lower Camille on to the bed. The nurse removes a vial of medicine and holds it to Camille's lips. "You are going to want to drink this. You will fall asleep so you won't feel the stitches."
Camille dutifully swallows the liquid. Her eyelids grow heavier until they close completely. The nurse prepares the stitches.
I can no longer look. I step out of the room and wait against the door. Has Camille lost too much blood? The nurse said she would survive, but what if Camille is infected? Did Alexanne do something more than merely cut her with a knife? What if she coated her sword with poison?
I force my thoughts to stop. I can't worry about the things I don't know. I can only wait. Until then, I just have to support Camille and never let her be hurt again.
Perhaps she can take lessons with Henri as well. I doubt Alexanne would let her, but she could do it in secret. However, I don't know how much can be done in secret within this castle. Alexanne seems to have spies everywhere.
The nurse opens the door behind my back. I turn, trying to keep the worry from showing on my face. I ask, "Is she okay?"
The nurse smiles, "She will be fine my lady. She will wake up from her sleep in an hour. Until then, perhaps you would like to go back to your room and change some clothes."
I glance down at my dress and my mouth falls open. Sprinkles of blood cover my skirt. When I knelt next to Camille, the fabric must have soaked it up.
I nod and say, "Thank you ever so much for everything you have done."
She curtsies, "It is no problem, my lady."
Antonin joins me and we go back to my room. I struggle to change my dress without Camille, ripping more than one seam in my attempt to get it off. I pull on a simple dress and realize my hair is still in the fancy braid, my crown still on my head. I'm too afraid to attempt to undo it.
I stare at my scared face for a few more seconds before hurrying back to the Nurse's office. I bring a Augustine's poetry book, because I know I may have to wait for her to wake. I knock on her door and hurry inside without waiting. Camille lies peacefully on the cot, a bandage wrapped tightly around her stomach. However, the bandage remains a cottony white, not a speckle of pink to be seen.
I pull a wooden chair beside her and open Augustine's book. I've finished it three times by now, but I continue to read it. It's the only piece of my future life that I have. The life that involves Grace and Augustine and Florentine. The one that doesn't involve Alexanne.
I read several pages before Camille stirs beside me. I set down my book and clutch her hand. She mumbles something and her eyelids flutter. I wait as patiently as I can for minutes as she slowly pulls herself out of sleep. Her eyelids finally open and she squints at me, "Where..."
"We're in the nurse's office."
She lies still for a few minutes, "Am I...am I going to be okay?"
I smile, "Yes, you're going to be okay. The nurse had to give you stitches and that's why your side probably hurts."
She blinks slowly and frowns, "What...why did I need stitches?"
"Because of the cut in your side..." I stare at her.
"How did that happen?"
If I tell her the truth, she'll be pulled back into the drama, deeper than she had been before. It will only make the target bigger on her back. As much as I hate lying to her, I will do it to protect her.
I smile, "It was a clumsy fall. I'm afraid you've been working so hard to prepare me in my return home, that you've forgotten to eat. You became exhausted and fainted. I'm afraid that when you feel, you were standing by the dresser. There was a sharp edge that cut your stomach."
She frowns, "I don't remember that."
"Exhaustion can cause you to forget."
The nurse shifts on the other side of the room, but doesn't say anything about my lies. She must know that it's not the truth, the dresser was on the other side of the room. Perhaps she knows better than to get involved in the drama of the castle. Camille is a perfect example of what happens.
Camille says, "I'm sorry, then, for causing all this trouble. I better be getting up so I can help you again."
I laugh, "You need your rest."
Camille starts to argue, but the nurse appears at my side. She says, "You should listen to Princess Admira. You will need your rest for a day or two."
Camille shakes her head, "But I need to help Admira. What will she do?"
"I'm sure I can find someone else."
"Tonight. I'll only spend the night here. In the morning, I will be back on my feet, helping Admira. It's silly to be put out of work after only a foolish fall."
The nurse says, "We will see depending on your health. I'm afraid that you need to be careful of infection."
Camille nods, "I'll be obedient and I'll lie super still all night. I promise I'll be better in the morning."
The nurse only presses her lips together and shakes her head. She busies herself with fiddling with Camille's bandages. She unwraps them and redoes them with fresh ones. I stare at the long, jagged s***h of red slicing Camille's stomach. Stitches dot her stomach. There will be more than a little scar left behind. Camille will forever bear the mark of Alexanne's violence, whether she knows it or not.
A loud knock rings out against the door. The nurse goes to answer it but I don't pay it any attention. It is likely to only be a servant or guard, bringing the nurse supplies. Perhaps the gossip has traveled and they hope to get a glance at the truth.
The nurse murmurs, "Your Highness, please do come in."
My eyes snap up as Alexanne strides into the room. Her face is the perfect mix of pity and worry.
She asks, "Is Camille okay? What happened?"
I don't even try to keep the chill from my words, "She's recovering from her fall."
Alexanne tilts her head to the side, "Her fall? How did that happen?"
"Exhaustion. She forgot to eat while preparing me for all the celebrations we had. She is fine and it won't happen again. I'll be sure of it."
Alexanne glares at me, "Yes, please be sure that it doesn't happen again. I would hate for someone to be hurt within these castle walls. I feel as though it is my duty to protect them, as they are in my home."
I say, "I do plan on protecting Camille."
Alexanne turns to Camille, "If it is too much stress for you, you can go home. We will be sure to pay all the wages you were promised when you agreed to work here. After being hurt, we wouldn't blame you if you left."
I silently beg Camille to take her offer. If Camille goes home, she will be able to escape all of this. Once she returns to her own kingdom, Alexanne won't be able to hurt her.
Instead, Camille bravely shakes her head, "I will be okay. I love this job too much to go home. Once my cut heals, I'll be back on my feet and able to work."
Alexanne pretends to notice the bandages for the first time. She rushes forward, leaning over Camille, "My, my, that is serious. How did that happen?"
Camille frowns, struggling to remember what I told her, "When I fell, I hit the dresser. There was a sharp edge."
Alexanne nods in understanding, "We must be sure to get that fixed. That is certainly a danger to all of us if we were to ever fall. I'm so sorry Camille."
Camille manages a smile, "There is no need to be sorry, your Highness. It is not your fault."
Alexanne catches my eye, her lips twitching up into a cold smile. I have to take a slow, steady breath to keep myself from screaming. If only Camille knew how wrong she was.
- Writer
